Cattitude - Episode 281 Toby, Gus & Me: Choosing a Life Plus Cats with Rebecca van Laer

Cattitude - Episode 281 Toby, Gus & Me: Choosing a Life Plus Cats with Rebecca van Laer

Author: Pet Life Radio October 16, 2025 Duration: 27:31
This week on Cattitude, Michelle Fern chats with writer and critic Rebecca van Laer about her debut memoir, Cat. Van Laer explores how our lives with cats reshape the wild we’ve tried to domesticate—what “tame,” “neuter,” and “indoors” say about nature and about us. She shares why she chose a life plus cats (not kids), and how “undomesticating” herself alongside her senior companions Toby and Gus reframed love, work, and family. From cats’ mysteriously divine histories to millennial burnout in a content-marketing grind, maternal fault lines, and the radical permission in feline laziness and pleasure, Rebecca’s reflections purr with humor and honesty—right down to Gus’s opinion: “I don’t want to be famous…I just want to go to the basement.”

EPISODE NOTES: Toby, Gus & Me: Choosing a Life Plus Cats with Rebecca van Laer

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Ever find yourself wondering about the secret life of your feline or just wanting to understand that peculiar chirp at the window? Cattitude-The #1 Cat Podcast is a cozy, weekly conversation for anyone whose life is shared with cats, hosted by the knowledgeable and friendly duo Michelle Fern and Tom Dock. This isn't just a dry lecture; it's like sitting down with friends who happen to be experts. Each episode brings something new to the table, from a deep dive into a specific cat breed's history and personality to practical, vet-approved tips on keeping your cat healthy and happy. They also sift through the latest gadgets, foods, and toys so you know what's truly worth your while. Produced by Pet Life Radio, the podcast feels like a warm blanket and a purring cat in your lap-informative yet thoroughly comforting. Whether you're a seasoned cat owner, a curious kid, or a family thinking about adopting your first kitten, you'll find a place here. Tune in for stories, science, and a whole lot of heart, all dedicated to celebrating the wonderful complexity of cats.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Cattitude -  The #1 Cat Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Cattitude - Episode 211 Cool Cats… Hot Weather! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:31
As you know, it’s super hot right now in the US and it isn't just humans who can suffer from the effects. Our animal companions are super vulnerable as well. This week Michelle Fern is joined by Ellie Laks, co-founder of…
Cattitude - Episode 210 Cat S**t Crazy! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:28
This week Michelle Fern chats cats with LA writer, actor, personal trainer and cat rescuer, Cindy D’Andrea. Cindy has combined her love of cats with her theatre career and has put together a show about her experiences as…
Cattitude - Episode 209 Oliver Kitten’s Diary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:17
This week Michelle Fern welcomes Gareth Thomas, author of Oliver Kitten’s Diary, a unique, fictional account of a cat’s first year and the family that adopts him. Oliver Kitten was born in a fire truck and ends up living…
Cattitude - Episode 208 The Other Family Doctor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:45
This week Michelle Fern welcomes Dr. Karen Fine, author of The Other Family Doctor. For 25 years, Karen operated a house call practice, and her main approach to patients is meeting them where they are—she’s done many app…
Cattitude - Episode 206 Going With Your Gut [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:41
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Cattitude - Episode 205 Heavenly Headbutts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:19
Michelle Fern welcomes best-selling author Allia Zobel Nolan, who wrote Heavenly Headbutts: Reflections of Hope about Cats and Eternity, a wonderful book after the passing of her cat that helped her with thoughtful medit…
Cattitude - Episode 204 Neighborhood Cats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:04
This week Michelle Fern welcomes Bryan Kortis, the co-founder and National Programs Director of Neighborhood Cats, a leading advocacy group for feral and stray cats. The organization operates hands-on programs in New Yor…
Cattitude - Episode 203 It’s National Cat Lady Day! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:34
April 19 is National Cat Lady Day. The reputation of a cat lady has come a long way since medieval Europe when a woman’s love for cats was a cause for suspicion and even scorn. Since then, the cat lady stereotype has tra…

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